Alberta Premier Danielle Smiths says a new task force will identify ways to support Ukrainian evacuees coming to Alberta with their financial, physical and spiritual needs..Smith mentioned the new task force during her speech to the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) fall convention in Edmonton..“Ukrainian people were among the first to move to Alberta and make a life here and now hundreds of thousands of Albertans of Ukrainian descent call our province home since the Russian invasion of Ukraine," Smith said..Since the spring, thousands of Ukrainians fled the war in their homeland to come to safety in Alberta. Alberta’s government has committed $23 million toward supporting Ukrainians choosing to stay in their home country as well as those making a new home..To ensure the appropriate settlement supports are available, the Premier’s Advisory Task Force on Ukraine will engage with Alberta’s Ukrainian community, not-for-profits and organizations that are assisting Ukrainian newcomers..The provincial government said it will identify ways Alberta’s government can further help Ukrainian evacuees settle and integrate into communities across Alberta..The task force includes leaders with deep roots in the Ukrainian community and will be chaired by Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, parliamentary secretary for Ukrainian Refugee Settlement. In order to hear directly from the Ukrainian community and those supporting newcomers, the task force will hold round tables across the province. The task force will provide both immediate and long-term recommendations in its final report..“I look forward to working with the task force on how we can best support Ukrainian evacuees coming to Alberta," Armstrong-Homeniuk said.."The ideas and information gathered by this group will help identify gaps in existing supports and ensure Ukrainian evacuees face a smooth and welcoming resettlement process.”.Premier’s Advisory Task Force on Ukraine members include:.Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, parliamentary secretary for Ukrainian Refugee SettlementEd Stelmach, former premierSally Mansour, non-profit executive and emergency management specialist in the non-profit sectorKevin Royle, firefighter and Firefighter Aid Ukraine project directorCarol Slukynski, founder of Helping Ukrainians in Fort SaskatchewanVitaliy Milentyev, chairman of the supervisory board at the National Depository UkraineJenn Schmidt-Rempel, councillor, City of Lethbridge.Alberta is currently home to more than 369,000 people of Ukrainian descent.."Albertans opened their hearts and homes and provided support through donations and humanitarian aid. This new task force is yet another way Albertans stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," Smith said..Due to a high level of spam content being posted in our comment section below, all comments undergo manual approval by a staff member during regular business hours (Monday - Friday). Your patience is appreciated.
